Supreme Court Modifies Deadline For Punjab & Haryana Bar Council Elections As April 30

The Supreme Court today modified its earlier order on the election schedule for Bar Council of Punjab & Haryana, and held that elections be concluded by April 30, 2026 instead of March 15, 2026. 

The bench of CJI Surya Kant and Justices Ujjal Bhuyan and NK Singh was hearing the plea seeking modification of its November 18 order which revised the time schedule for holding of State Bar Council elections across 16 States/UTs and ordered that the same be held in 5 phases between January 31, 2026 and April 30, 2026.

As per Paragraph 12(III) of the order, it was held that "In the third phase, the elections of the State Bar Councils of Gujarat, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Punjab & Haryana, Rajasthan, and West Bengal shall be conducted. The entire election programme, including counting of votes and subsequent declaration of results shall, in any case, be concluded on or before 15.03.2026." 

Today, the bench agreed to consider the modification plea by the Counsel for Bar Council of Punjab & Haryana and held that "the entire election programme for the State Bar Council of Punjab & Haryana, including the counting of votes and subsequent declaration of results, shall, in any case, be concluded by 30.04.2026, instead of 15.03.2026." 

The bench also clarified that the "elections may continue as per the schedule already notified on 10.11.2025 (i.e., before order dated 18.11.2025) was passed, subject to the above modified timeline and the other directions of this Court in order dated 18.11.2025." 

Case Details: M. VARADHAN v UNION OF INDIA & ANR.|Writ Petition(s)(Civil) No(s). 1319/2023

Read order here